Nathan K
E-learning consultant, Chief Learning Officer, and Social Media Optimization
Linked In and Facebook: Your social networking elevator pitch?
In the fall of 2007 Scobel called Facebook "a rolodex on steroids" and in 2009 Josh Catone called it "email 2.0" What is your perspective? Or how have you used Linked In or Facebook for business?
Thanks! It would be great to hear lots of great stories and slogans!
Answers (10)
Kim B
Executive Producer- creative illusions Productions & VOD South, 25+ yrs in media production twitter.com/KimBrame
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I prefer Linkedin for business. Simply put it was designed for business so it works well. The most valuable portions are the Q&A and the opportunity for clients to speak on behalf of our work. We do get inquiries from Linkedin and several folks have commented they saw me on Linkedin, checked out the websites, read the bio and even contacted some of my clients before they contacted us...and we got the jobs!
For us Facebook is totally social and Twitter is a connection with selected creative and business minds around world along with updates from selected news sources. I don't go near myspace..nothing there for me...besides you have to do your real work and sleep at some point.
Links:
After exploring Facebook to see what all the fuss was about, and with no real desire to "use" it for networking, it seems that Facebook is "using" me! I have suggested to friends that it can "suck the life out of me," when I let it waste my time. LinkedIn: Facebook for grownups, with exceptions for those in the H.R./head hunting business or serious networking pros.
Flyn P
LinkedIn Guru and Networking expert - Allow me help. Learn how to reduce your marketing costs while increasing revenues.
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LinkedIn is definitely better for business.
And there is no elevator pitch! That implies a prospecting mindset and on LI it just simply is not the best way to go.
The secrete is not a pitch, but value. Provide value to all those you can and the rest of networking is easy.
Most people connect because it means a potential prospect and thus there approach is prospecting in tone. This is a grave mistake. If you connect with the idea of trying to provide value, then you are a true netwroker and you will reap far greater rewards than those who use the prospecting mindset approach.
I hope this helps.
Dave M
Fabulous wire names created at your event ★ Extraordinary traffic builder for your trade show booth ★ WireNames.com
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Linkedin for business, facebook for socializing.
Although, I've also used Linkedin for socializing an gotten some gigs from facebook...
Facebook and LinkedIn are each some of what Scobel and Cantone called them (rolodex2.0 and email2.0).
But, they also transcend that because they actually allow you to develop real relationships in real time without having to schedule an appointment or interrupt someone's (or your own) workflow.
And now, Twitter is also, in my opinion, just as powerful as both, but in a different, simpler, and easier to manage way.
Also, as a twitter user, I stumbled upon another simple, yet valuable tool at
http://www.meeid.com/wwahhmpreneur/
Basically, I can combine and integrate all of my web2.0 use on that one little page. It's a very simple and easy to use tool with valuable, key information.
Facebook has also been doing an excellent job of providing ways to integrate everything, but so many choices can quickly become unmanageable and overwhelming. Of course, LinkedIn has been improving in the arena of web2.0 integration, as well; and LI users need to pay close attention to the newest changes and incorporate them into their profiles and groups.
Because of the fact that everyone has their favorite social media sites, it's so important for business owners and entrepreneurs to position themselves wherever their clients may be and to make themselves relatively simple to locate online, as well.
And, most importantly, the gurus of web2.0 are going to be found in the places that I've listed here. These are the people that have learned how to make web2.0 a viable tool for themselves; that can teach how to customize it to your particular needs (i.e., for great nonprofit advice you need to be on twitter); and for the newest web2.0 and beyond innovations, you need to be there so that you can keep up.
The world has changed fairly rapidly since the www was invented; but this is nothing compared to the exponential changes we are now seeing with the advent of the social networking (web2.0) internet growth phase. Don't get left behind.
Links:
Donna J also suggests this expert on this topic:
Simon H
Visibility Extremist and Social Media Campaign Manager
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LinkedIn is for Ron Atkinson and Sir Alex Ferguson
Facebook is David Hirst and Reo Ferdinand
Josh C
General Manager at Web Industries; Itinerant Writer; and Decent Little League Coach
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Hi Nathan,
I have used LI to: learn about companies and industries; connect with customers and potential customers; meet interesting people and have diverse conversations; and contribute thru the Q&A and a few referrals.
They can call it anything they want; I call it useful and fun.
Josh.
Rob D
Innovation Catalyst. Director of innovation & commercialization group. Keynote speaker, author, consultant.
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LinkedIn is Monday morning at the office in a suit; Facebook is Friday night in kakhis and a denim shirt. Cheers.. Rob
Facebook continues to be that young, edgy, informal setting where you can kick back and play games with your friends, find out the latest gossip about them without even having to call them! -- and true, use it as your main email system. I believe in having 1 inbox though so I'm not jumping on that wagon.
Being on Facebook is so laid back; Facebook ads aren't distracting at all and almost always relevant. Wonderful for B2C promotion. Potentially wasteful if your employees have access and play Facebook games on end.
LinkedIn's more professional and formal branding is useful for B2B and networking. It's like having your own P.I. prepare you a dossier on a business contact.
Simon S
CEO & Founder International IncSlingers LLC
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I find it interesting that people seem to feel that Facebook is for kids - that LinkedIn is for grownups. Perhaps the stats on Facebook might change peoples minds. The largest growth on Facebook is in the 34 - 54 age group. If the rate of growth in those areas was to stay flat at current rate there will be more than 20m users on Facebook in that age range by the end of 2009. Still think its for kids?
